John 8:37-59

John 8:31-36 

John 6:41-70 

John 5:1-9 

The Way of Peace 

John 4:1-30

John 3:22-36

John 3:1-21

John 2:13-25

John 2:1-11

John 1:35-51

John 1:19-34

John 1:1-18 

Vision Sunday: Rooted

First Things First

In The Meantime, Pt. I

Christmas Playlist Pt. IV

Christmas Playlist, Pt. III

Christmas Playlist, Pt. II

Christmas Playlist, Pt. I

Be The One

I've Got Some Fears, Pt. V

I've Got Some Fears, Pt. IV

I've Got Some Fears, Pt. III

I've Got Some Fears, Pt. II

I've Got Some Fears, Pt. I

Honest Faith in an Anxious World

Living Freedom, Pt. III

Living Freedom, Pt. II

Experience Lasting Change

Heart of Revival: Beyond the Buzzword

It's Spiritual

Living Freedom, Pt. I

Experience Lasting Change

How's Your Soul?

Check Your Heart

Summer In Galatians, Pt. VII

Summer In Galatians, Pt. VI

Summer in Galatians, Pt. V

Summer in Galatians, Pt. IV

Galatians 4

Summer In Galatians, Pt. III

Summer In Galatians, Pt. II

Summer In Galatians, Pt. I

Galatians 1:1-16

Father's Day 2025

Holy Spirit, Pt. III

Holy Spirit, Pt. II

Holy Spirit, Pt. I

The Person - The Presence - The Power

Things Jesus Never Said, Pt. IV

Things Jesus Never Said, Pt. III

Proverbs 4:23

Things Jesus Never Said, Pt. II

Joshua 1:5

Things Jesus Never Said, Pt. I

Luke 9:23-24

It Is Finished

Easter Sunday 2025

Palm Sunday 2025

Matthew 21:1-11

The Good Shepherd Pt. VI

Psalm 23:6

The Good Shepherd Pt. V

Psalm 23:5

The Good Shepherd Pt. IV

Psalm 23:4

The Good Shepherd Pt. III

Psalm 23:3

The Good Shepherd Pt. I

Psalm 23:1

Hello My Name Is...Jehovah Nissi & Jehovah Sabaoth

Hello My Name Is...Jehovah Tsidkenu & Jehovah M'Kaddesh

Hello My Name Is...Jehovah Jireh & Jehovah Rapha

Hello My Name Is...Yahweh & Abba

Practical Rhythms of Discipleship
Acts 2:42-47
Rhythms of Discipleship

Rhythms of Discipleship
Acts 2:42

The Year of Discipleship
Matthew 28:19-20
Vision Sunday

New Habits, New You
Habits

Do You Remember?
2 Peter 3:1-3
Don't Forget To Remember 2024

Peace In The Presence of God
Isaiah 26:3
Christmas Eve at His Church

Grief and Peace Can Coexist
Philippians 4:7
The Missing Peace

Waiting with Peace
Psalm 37:1-11
The Missing Peace

Offense and Peace Can’t Coexist!
Romans 12:14-18
The Missing Peace

What is Peace?
Philippians 4:8-9
The Missing Peace

Still Complaining?
Philippians 2:14-15
Thanking Through It

Gratitude is the Doorway
Psalm 100:4
Thanking Through It

Thanking Through It
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Thanking Through It: The Power of Gratitude

Our Mission
Matthew 28:19-20
Building For Legacy

A Lazarus Legacy
John 11:25
Building for Legacy

The Heart of Generosity
Matthew 25:21
Building for Legacy

Discovering Purpose
Ephesians 5:16
Building for Legacy

Kingdom Legacy
Galatians 6:9
Building for Legacy

What Do You Stand For?
1 Corinthians 16:13-14
In God We Trust: For Such A Time As This

Truth and  Grace
Ephesians 4:15

In God We Trust: For Such A Time As This!

Will You Trust Him?
Esther 4:14
In God We Trust

The Church of Philadelphia
Revelation 3:13
7 Churches of Revelation

The Church of Thyatira
Revelation 2:29
7 Churches of Revelation

The Church of Sardis
Revelation 3:1-3
7 Churches of Revelation

The Church of Pergamum
Revelation 2:12-17
7 Churches of Revelation

The Church of Smyrna
Revelation 2:10
7 Churches of Revelation

The Church in Ephesus
Revelation 2:7
7 Churches of Revelation

God Make Us Bold
Acts 4:13
Live Bold

Breaking Bareness
1 Samuel 1:20
Landon Merrill

Built For Battle
Ephesians 6:10-18
Built Different

Built For Daily Discipleship
Ephesians 4:1-2
Built Different

Built To Grow
Built Different
Ephesians 3:20-21

Built For Unity
Build Different
Ephesians 2:11-22

Ephesians 1 :3-14

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he[b] predestined us for adoption to sonship[c] through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemptionthrough his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding,9 he[d] made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.

11 In him we were also chosen,[e] having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

Acts 2:42-47

42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teachingand to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

God Answers Prayers
Building Strong Families
Philippians 4:6-7

Respond-Ability
Building Strong Families
1 Corinthians 13:8

How Can I Know God's Will For My Life?
I've Got Questions
Jeremiah 29:13

Why Does God Allow Suffering?
I've Got Questions
Revelation 21:4

How Can I Forgive That?
I've Got Questions
Romans 12:9

What Happens After I Die?
I've Got Questions
Matthew 5:27-30

I Am The Resurrection And The Life
Easter At His Church
John 11:25

I Am The Bread Of Life & The True Vine
Jesus: In His Own Words
John 6:35 & John 15:1-6

I Am The Light 
Jesus: In His Own Words 
John 8:12-14 

He Is The Shepherd
Jesus: In His Own Words
John 10:1-15

Feeling Overwhelmed?
What's On Your Mind?
Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG)

Celebrating A Year Of God's Presence
His Church One Year Celebration
Deuteronomy 4:9

Hope in Balance
What's On Your Mind?
Romans 15:13

Renewing Our Minds
What's On Your Mind?
Philippians 4:6-9

Renewing Our Mind
What's On Your Mind?
Romans 12:2

Building Our Altars
We Are Builders
Genesis 8:20 & Genesis 22:9-14

Building Our Foundation
We Are Builders
Matthew 7:24-27

We are Builders 

Nehemiah 3 

Vision  Sunday 

Theme for the year- We Are Builders 

1 Corinthians 3:9 - "We are co-workers in God's service." 

Matthew 9:17
“And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the old skins would burst from the pressure, spilling the wine and ruining the skins. New wine is stored in new wineskins so that both are preserved.”

Matthew 1:23
"Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bring. forth a son. They shall call his name Immanuel;" which is, being interpreted, "God with us."

Jesus comes to dispel the misconceptions about God 
Jesus comes to express the love of God 
Jesus comes to give you a relationship with God 

Jesus came as a gift, but also came with gifts .

Isaiah 9:1-7
9 Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever. The land of Zebulun and Naphtali will be humbled, but there will be a time in the future when Galilee of the Gentiles, which lies along the road that runs between the Jordan and the sea, will be filled with glory.

2 The people who walk in darkness
    will see a great light.
For those who live in a land of deep darkness,
    a light will shine.

3 You will enlarge the nation of Israel,
    and its people will rejoice.
They will rejoice before you
    as people rejoice at the harvest
    and like warriors dividing the plunder.

4 For you will break the yoke of their slavery
    and lift the heavy burden from their shoulders.
You will break the oppressor’s rod,
    just as you did when you destroyed the army of Midian.

5 The boots of the warrior
    and the uniforms bloodstained by war
will all be burned.
    They will be fuel for the fire.

6 For a child is born to us,
    a son is given to us.
The government will rest on his shoulders.
    And he will be called:
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

7 His government and its peace
    will never end.
He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David
    for all eternity.
The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies
    will make this happen!

Christmas at His Church Week 2 

Mark 1:1-3
1 The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, 2 as it is written in Isaiah the prophet:

“I will send my messenger ahead of you,
    who will prepare your way” —

3 “a voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
    make straight paths for him.’”

#1- Prepare our Hearts 
#2 - Prepare the Way 

Unlikely Christmas

I think we can all recognize that there often exists a disconnect between expectations and reality

Luke 1:47 " My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.”

John 6:35 “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry.” 

3 types of people around the table.

The SEAT Represents a POSITION that God wants you to OCCUPY.

Luke 15:1-2

Lost Sheep / Lost Coin / Lost Son

Hebrews 5: 11-14
11 There is much more we would like to say about this, but it is difficult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull and don’t seem to listen. 12 You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food. 13 For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn’t know how to do what is right. 14 Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong.

The Table- Provision and Generosity 

Matthew 6:11 “Give us this day our daily bread”

Exodus 16:4“I will rain down bread from Heaven for you. 

John 6:1-13

Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), 2 and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs he had performed by healing the sick. 3 Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. 4 The Jewish Passover Festival was near.

5 When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” 6 He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.

7 Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”

8 Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, 9 “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”

10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). 11 Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.

12 When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” 13 So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.

The Table- an invitation to relationship

God created humanity with two great needs, a need to eat and a need for relationships. The table gives us a means to fulfill both needs at the same time.

Made for More

Ephesians 3:20
20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we askor imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,

Judges 6:1-7
The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord, and for seven years he gave them into the hands of the Midianites. 2 Because the power of Midian was so oppressive, the Israelites prepared shelters for themselves in mountain clefts, caves and strongholds.3 Whenever the Israelites planted their crops, the Midianites, Amalekites and other eastern peoples invaded the country. 4 They camped on the land and ruined the crops all the way to Gaza and did not spare a living thing for Israel, neither sheep nor cattle nor donkeys. 5 They came up with their livestock and their tents like swarms of locusts. It was impossible to count them or their camels;they invaded the land to ravage it. 6 Midian so impoverished the Israelites that they cried out to the Lord for help.

7 When the Israelites cried out to the Lord because of Midian,

Acts 2:2-7
“Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages, as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability. At that time there were devout Jews from every nation living in Jerusalem. When they heard the loud noise, everyone came running, and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers. They were completely amazed. “How can this be?” they exclaimed. “we all hear these people speaking in our own languages about the wonderful things God has done!”

1 Corinthians 12
1 Corinthians 14
Mark 16:17
Romans 8:26-27

God: The Holy Spirit - His Gifts

1 Corinthians 12:4-11
4 There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. 5 There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. 6 God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.

7 A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. 8 To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge. 9 The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing. 10 He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. 11 It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.

God: The Holy Spirit- Empowered Living 

Acts 1:4 "Once when he was eating with them, he commanded them, “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before."

Acts 1:8 "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

GOD: The Holy Spirit - The Fruit of the Spirit 

The fruit of the Spirit is not a to-do-list, it's a RESULTS list.

Galatians 5:22-23
22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. 

GOD: The Holy Spirit - The Holy Who? 

Who is the Holy Spirit? 
- The Holy Spirit in Scripture 
- The Holy Spirit is a Person 
- The Holy Spirit is God 

A Story a Tell- The power of sharing. 

A Story to Tell- Faith IN the trial 

A Story to Tell- But God - Marriage and Family 

A Story to Tell- Overcoming Addiction 

The Gospel of Common Sense- Prayer is what we're called to!

James 5:13-20
13 Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises. 14 Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven.

16 Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. 17 Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years! 18 Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to yield its crops.

19 My dear brothers and sisters, if someone among you wanders away from the truth and is brought back, 20 you can be sure that whoever brings the sinner back from wandering will save that person from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins.

The Gospel of Common Sense- Waiting Well

James 5:7-12
7 Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. 8 You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. 9 Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door.10 As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.

12 But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.

The Gospel of Common Sense- Riches

James 5:1-6
Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. 2 Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. 3 Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. 4 Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. 5 You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.6 You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you.

The Gospel of Common Sense -

James 4:13-17

13 Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” 14 How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. 15 What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” 16 Otherwise you are boasting about your own pretentious plans, and all such boasting is evil.

17 Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.

The Gospel of Common Sense- The war within us! 

James 4:1-10
 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? 2 You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.

4 You adulterous people,[a] don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us[b]? 6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:

“God opposes the proud
    but shows favor to the humble.”[c]

7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

Hear testimonies of what God did in our Youth Students at Summer Camp! 

The Gospel of Common Sense-2 Kinds of Wisdom

James 3:13-18
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

The Gospel of Common Sense- Words create your World

James 3:1-2
Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way.

3 We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. 4 And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong. 5 In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches.

But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. 6 And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself. 

7 People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish,8 but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. 9 Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. 10 And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! 11 Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water?12 Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring. 

The Gospel of Common Sense - A Fatih that Works!

James 2:14-26
 What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? 15 Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, 16 and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?

17 So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.

18 Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.”

19 You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God.[a]Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. 20 How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless?

21 Don’t you remember that our ancestor Abraham was shown to be right with God by his actions when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see, his faith and his actions worked together. His actions made his faith complete. 23 And so it happened just as the Scriptures say: “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.”[b] He was even called the friend of God.[c] 24 So you see, we are shown to be right with God by what we do, not by faith alone.

25 Rahab the prostitute is another example. She was shown to be right with God by her actions when she hid those messengers and sent them safely away by a different road. 26 Just as the body is dead without breath,[d] so also faith is dead without good works.

The Gospel of Common Sense- Favoritism

James 2:1-13
 My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. 2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. 3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?

8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,”[a] you are doing right. 9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 11 For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,”[b] also said, “You shall not murder.”[c] If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.

12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, 13 because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

The Gospel of Common Sense- Head, Heart, Hand

James 1:19-27

19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

The Gospel of Common Sense- Trials & Temptations 

James 1:12-18
12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their ownevil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

The Gospel of Common Sense- Trials 

James 1:1-11 
1 This letter is from James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. I am writing to the “twelve tribes”—Jewish believers scattered abroad. Greetings!

Faith and Endurance
2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. 6 But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. 7 Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.

9 Believers who are poor have something to boast about, for God has honored them. 10 And those who are rich should boast that God has humbled them. They will fade away like a little flower in the field. 11 The hot sun rises and the grass withers; the little flower droops and falls, and its beauty fades away. In the same way, the rich will fade away with all of their achievements.

Pentecost Sunday

Acts 2:1-4
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Acts 2:17-18
17 “‘In the last days, God says,   I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,  your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams. 18 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.

It's In You

1 Samuel 10:1 - Then Samuel took a flask of olive oil and poured it over Saul’s head. He kissed Saul and said, “I am doing this because the Lordhas appointed you to be the ruler over Israel, his special possession.

1 Samuel 10:21-22- And finally Saul son of Kish was chosen from among them. But when they looked for him, he had disappeared! 22 So they asked the Lord, “Where is he?”

And the Lord replied, “He is hiding among the baggage.”

1 Samuel 16:12-13 - And the Lord said, “This is the one; anoint him.”

13 So as David stood there among his brothers, Samuel took the flask of olive oil he had brought and anointed David with the oil. And the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David from that day on. 

Mother's Day 

Psalm 139:13-18

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,  as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. How precious are your thoughts about me,[b] O God.
They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me!

Sermon Series- I Love Jesus but hate...

John 10:10 - "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

Ephesians 4:31-32- "31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."

Sermon Series- I Love Jesus but hate...

Daniel 3:16-18

"Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty.  But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”

Sermon Series - I love Jesus but hate... 

Matthew 6
Matthew 23 

Easter Sunday 

The Implication of Easter; Past, Present, and Future! 

Palm Sunday 

John 12:12-18 

The next day, the news that Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem swept through the city. A large crowd of Passover visitors took palm branches and went down the road to meet him. They shouted, “Praise God! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hail to the King of Israel!” Jesus found a young donkey and rode on it, fulfilling the prophecy that said: “Don’t be afraid, people of Jerusalem. Look, your King is coming,  riding on a donkey’s colt.”

His disciples didn’t understand at the time that this was a fulfillment of prophecy. But after Jesus entered into his glory, they remembered what had happened and realized that these things had been written about him. Many in the crowd had seen Jesus call Lazarus from the tomb, raising him from the dead, and they were telling others about it. That was the reason so many went out to meet him—because they had heard about this miraculous sign. 

His Church Mission:
Equipping people to fully engage in a life of Faith, Community, and Service to Others. 

Acts 2:42-47 
"All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper, and to prayer.A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity, all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved."

James 1:27 
Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.

Series- Divine Interruptions

Week 4 - Divine Storms

Mark 4:35-41
" As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water.

Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?”

When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

The disciples were absolutely terrified. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and waves obey him!”

Series- Divine Interruptions

Week 3- Interrupted Priorities

Childlike Faith 

Matthew 18-1:4
"About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?  Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven."